Study Finds Weirdos Make Better Artists

Researchers have proved that people think weirdos make better art. A team of psychologists from the University of Southampton and the University of Limerick asked participants to evaluate artworks based on perceived “eccentricity.” Van Gogh’s sunflower paintings were given higher rankings once they knew he cut off his ear, and Lady Gaga, too (yes, she is the contemporary example) was appreciated more once researchers presented eccentric pictures of her. Even imaginary artworks were observed to be of higher quality when made by a garden variety nutter. Thanks, Science!